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Help desk and toolkit are launched to strengthen access to information for Caribbean journalists

"A milestone in Freedom of Information (FOI) and Access to Information has been laid in the Pan-Caribbean region with the launch of the MIC [Media Institute of the Caribbean ] Freedom of Information Help Desk and Advocacy tool kit, […] a cloud-based, secure platform for journalists, civil society organisations and private individuals to submit their FOI / ATI requests to MIC. These requests would be reviewed by MIC’s support staff who will provide guidance to and advise applicants on how to address denials, implement follow up actions and any other course of action.

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The Help Desk is one aspect of MIC’s FOI project which seeks to monitor and document press freedom violations in the English-speaking Pan-Caribbean region; provide advisory legal opinions to journalists when this freedom is being violated or is in danger; be a strong voice of advocacy for the protection of freedom of the press by providing recommendations for policy framework and legislation for Freedom of Information and Access To Information; and provide a coordinating mechanism to help enforce the right to freedom of the press by working with civil society and key stakeholders to develop recommendations and provide public information."

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